The mythological Phoenix, known for rising from its ashes, symbolizes rebirth and regeneration. Inspired by this myth, the Energy Box represents a fresh start emerging from deep pain. Located in a part of L’Aquila, Italy, it stands where a stone farmhouse, destroyed by the earthquake on April 6, 2009, once was. The new building, eco-friendly and technologically advanced, symbolizes contemporary design’s role in reconstructing suburban areas. The preserved stone walls connect the heavy, indelible memory of the past with the aspiration for a brighter future, embodied by the lightweight new structure with its modern linguistic, material, and technological features, simple forms, and low environmental impact.

Combining both passive and active bioclimatic strategies, it achieves resilience to earthquakes and reduces energy demand over 15 times below legal limits for new buildings. As the first Casaclima Gold-certified building in the region, it adheres to the Nearly-Zero Energy Building model with a heating requirement of 6.6 kWh/m2 per year, powered by renewable energy sources. Using low-impact materials and primarily dry construction techniques, it minimizes the environmental load throughout its lifecycle.  It has won multiple awards and has been recognized in various other forums and publications.

Year: 2011-2013